Three Burnaby schools score funding for new playgrounds

Maywood Community School students sing "Here Comes the Sun" at a press conference at their school Friday. Maywood is one of 25 schools across the province that will get $105,000 to build universally accessible playgrounds.

For kids growing up in neighbourhoods dominated by apartment highrises, playgrounds aren’t just playgrounds, they’re backyards too, according to one Burnaby principal.

“Maywood is an urban school with little greenspace,” said Maywood Community School principal Kathryn Yamamoto. “You can see how many apartment buildings are in this area.”

Yamamoto was speaking at a press conference at her school in the heart of Metrotown Friday morning.

Education Minister Rob Fleming was there to announce $5 million in grants for new school playgrounds around the province, including three in Burnaby: a $105,000 universally accessible playground at Maywood and new $90,000 standard playgrounds at Second Street Community School and Sperling Elementary School.